The night smelt is one of the three exact (still existing) species in the Spirinchus genus, along with the Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys) and the shishamo (Spirinchus lanceolatus), native to northern Japan.

Juvenile and adult night smelt fill a role in pelagic ecosystems as forage to a range of middle to high trophic level predatory fish, birds, and mammals. Night smelt embryos are forage for surf fish such as jacksmelt (Atherinopsis californiensis) and surfperch as well as surf zone invertebrates.

Aug 31, 2020 · Fresh, sparkling night smelt - what a treat! If you've ever dipped for these yourself you know how magical these little creatures are and how they smell a little bit like cucumber fresh from the sea. (Photo courtesy of Viola Toniolo)

Apr 15, 2015 · Night smelt are a small silvery fish in the family Osmeridae (Hubbs 1925) that occur from central California to southeast Alaska. They are nocturnal spawners, aggregating in the surf zone to spawn on sand or gravel.

Spawns in the surf at night (Ref. 2850). Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850) Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 8.3 - 12.4, mean 9.7 °C (based on 72 cells).

night smelt. Kingdom. Animalia. Location in Taxonomic Tree . Genus. Spirinchus. Species. Spirinchus starksi. Identification Numbers. TSN: 162048. Geography. Launch Interactive Map. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Night smelt are short lived and believed to reach a maximum age of 2 to 3 years. Spawning occurs in the surf along open coast coarse sand beaches from January to September. Eggs are fertilized in the wash of the surf, adhere to sand grains, and sink. Hatching occurs in approximately 2 weeks.

The **Night Smelt** (Spirinchus starksi) is an intriguing species of fish that graces the chilly waters along the Pacific coast of North America. Known for

Monterey Fish Market Seafood Index, illustration and brief description of Night Smelt, Spirinchus starski (White Bait), its range, season of our procurement, methods of capture, sustainability considerations, size range, flavor and texture and cooking tips.

Also known as Nightfish, Candlefish, and White Bait, the Night Smelt (along with the Surf Smelt) is a true smelt and member of the Osmeridae family. It is usually confused with the Longfin Smelt due to their similar appearance.